The topic de jour Tuesday at Portland City Hall was Legislative and Congressional priorities for 2013. Of course, that discussion couldn't begin without addressing the "lame duck" Congress occupying Washington, D.C. through year's end.

And in fitting fashion, the Portland City Council hashed out priorities without its own resident lame ducks, Mayor Sam Adams and Commissioner Randy Leonard. In their places: Mayor-elect Charlie Hales and Commissioner-elect Steve Novick.

Adams' calendar called for him to attend Tuesday's session. But he instead decided to work from home, mayoral spokeswoman Caryn Brooks said.

"I think he wanted to work from home without disruption," Brooks said in an email.

Asked what Adams was working on and why working at his office in City Hall would cause a disruption, Brooks said: "He has many things coming to council in the next weeks. That is what he is working on. Him working in his office doesn't cause a disruption, people constantly disrupt him ... hence he wants to work at home to focus."

Leonard, meanwhile, wasn't in the office Tuesday morning but arrived at City Hall later in the day.

Leonard said he planned to attend the work session but decided to opt out, recalling his days in the Legislature. Leonard said he remembered when an outgoing state senator asked provocative questions during a similar meeting about the upcoming year's agenda, even though the legislator was on the way out.